What You Need To Know To Find and Maintain Affordable Dentures

According to The American Academy of Prosthodontists, there are 36 million people who have no teeth (also called edentulous) in the United States. Besides this, there are also 120 million people who are missing a minimum of one tooth. Out of those 36 million people, about 90% of them have dentures and approximately 15% of edentulous people have dentures made every year. 

There are two different types of dentures available, non-implant retained dentures, which come in complete or partial sets. This depends on if all of your teeth are missing, or if you only have some of your teeth missing.  The base of the dentures can be made from one of two materials:

• Metal
• Resin 

The dentures themselves can be made from one of two materials, as well: 

• Porcelain
• Plastic (Also called polymer)

There are a few different factors that can be considered when trying to decide what kind of dentures you might need, such as: 

• Bone Loss
• Cost
• Number of teeth being replaced
• Your needs and preferences as a patient 

You should always do your research to determine how much you can afford, and what you feel is the best option for you. Also, you can always make an appointment with us whether you are a new or existing patient, Whitespruce Dental would be happy to visit with you to help give you all the options available and help you decide which of these options are right for you!

How to Maintain Your Dentures
When you speak with your dentist about getting dentures placed, they can also help give you information on how to care for your dentures properly. Doing things like keeping your dentures in water or a cleanser solution made for dentures when you are not wearing them will help them keep their shape and also stop them from drying out.  Make sure not to put your dentures in hot water, because this could make them warp and not fit into your mouth properly.  Both partial and full dentures can build up plaque and stains just like normal teeth can. If you do not clean your dentures properly, the build-up of biofilm can cause the development of mouth issues such as denture-related stomatitis.  It is recommended by the ACP (American College of Prosthodontists) to clean your dentures every day by brushing with a nonabrasive denture cleaner and soaking them daily to avoid plaque build-up and harmful bacteria.

Steps in Cleaning Dentures

Step One: Wash away any loose food particles and get rid of any adhesive left from your dentures.

Step Two: Use a commercial cleanser for removable dentures which you can get in several different forms:

• Tablets (Dropped into warm water before placing dentures)
• Creams/Pastes/Gels (Normally used to brush dentures after they are taken out, and then rinsed. It is not recommended to use these options while dentures are in your mouth)
• Solutions (This can help minimize the bacteria which can help with odors)

Luckily, today you are not limited to just one option when it comes to dentures. Whether you are missing a few or all of your teeth, dentures may be the best route for you. And once you get dentures, you have multiple options on how to care for and maintain them. If you are interested in exploring dentures as an option for you, please call Whitespruce Dental and we would be glad to talk with you and go over all of your available options! 

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.